Two-way fastener and method

ABSTRACT

A two-way fastener includes a first member threaded for being screwed into a first workpiece; a polygonal wall for receiving a tool to screw the first member into the first workpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the first member; and a second member extending in an opposite fastening direction from the first member, the second member configured to be fastened to a second workpiece. A fastening method includes enabling the threading of a first member of a fastener into a first workpiece; and enabling the threading of a second workpiece to a second member extending outwardly from the first member and the first workpiece.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/822,780, entitled “Two-Way Fastener”, filed Jun.24, 2010, which in turn claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.provisional patent Application No. 61/220,395, entitled “Two-WayFastener”, filed Jun. 25, 2009, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference and relied upon.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to fasteners.

A leg in the table of my living room came loose. The leg at its centerhad a bore. An internally threaded collar had been press-fitted into thebore. The bore size had been widened such that the collar no longerpress-fit into the bore. Attempts to recreate a press-fit wereunfruitful, including wrapping the collar with tape and attempting topress the tape-expanded collar into the bore. Attempts to glue thecollar into the bore were likewise unsuccessful. Attempts to glue theleg directly to the table were likewise unsuccessful. In each case, theleg continued to wobble. A different type of mechanical fastener wasneeded.

I was reluctant to bolt the leg from outside the leg to the table topbecause the screw or nail heads would be viewable on a fairly nice pieceof furniture in a fairly nice room of the house. I attempted to find adouble-ended fastener that would allow the leg to be re-bolted to thetable without being viewable once the leg had been reattached but couldfind none.

In the end, I re-bolted the leg from the outside, choosing stabilityover aesthetics. The repair process however led me to conceive of thetwo-way fastener discussed below.

A patent search revealed U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,668, entitled Double-EndedFastener. This patent however has the drawback of requiring a separateinstallation tool 110, 210, 310, 403 and 405 for each of its embodimentsof FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A and 4B, respectively (see also Claim 1). Thedrawbacks of a separate, specialized installation tool should be obviousto those of skill in the art. If the tool is lost, broken or forgotten,the fasteners are rendered useless until a new tool is obtained.

A need accordingly exists for an improved two-way fastener.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure sets forth improved two-way fasteners. Thefasteners allow for a first workpiece to be fixed mechanically to asecond workpiece, after which the fasteners are hidden from view by theworkpieces. The fasteners are ideal for furniture building, for example,because they offer a strong but aesthetically pleasing connection of twoworkpieces.

Each of the embodiments illustrated below shows a two-way fastener thatis secured to a first workpiece using a standard hardware utensil, suchas pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a nut driver or a socket. The secondworkpiece is then bolted to the first workpiece, for example by drivingor translating the second workpiece onto a nail section of the fastener,which extends outward from the first workpiece. In the broken table legexample illustrated in the BACKGROUND, the two-way fastener can bescrewed into a bottom of the table top using for example a standard pairof pliers or a screwdriver, leaving a nail member of the fastenerextending out from the bottom surface of the tabletop. Next, the tableleg is driven onto the nail member of the fastener, reattaching the legto the table top and at the same time hiding the two-way fastener fromview. In an alternative fastener shown below, the secondary fastenerextending from the bottom of the table top is a threaded fastener ontowhich the table leg is threaded to yield the hidden connection.

In one embodiment, therefore, the fastener includes a screw member and anail member. The screw member can be in the form similar to a flatheadscrew, such that the screw portion threaded into the workpiece becomesflush with the insertion surface of the workpiece. The nail member canhave a same central axis as the screw member and extend in an oppositedirection as the screw member. The nail member can be in the form of astandard nail having a cylindrical extension terminating in a pointedtip. The nail member alternatively (i) is flattened and/or (ii) has oneor more saw-tooth edge that aids in preventing the workpieces from beingpulled apart axially.

The base of the nail member of the fastener includes a flattened areathat is configured to receive a head of a standard pair of pliers. Auser applies the pliers to the flattened area to grasp and turn thetwo-way fastener. The user presses the pliers axially against the top ofthe flathead of the screw member to drive the fastener into theworkpiece as the user turns the pliers. In this manner, the fastener isthreaded into the workpiece. The workpiece can be of a softer material,such as wood, such that the driving force required by the user isreasonably small. A suitable pilot hole can be drilled if necessary.

In a second embodiment, the top of the flathead of the screw portion isexpanded, such that one or more nail member can be located off-centerfrom the screw member. That is, the one or more nail member has acentral axis that is not coextensive with, but perhaps parallel to, acentral axis of the screw portion of the two-way fastener. The nailmember can again be straight-shafted, saw-toothed or serrated asdesired. The top surface of the flathead of the screw member defines afemale recess configured to receive the tip of a screwdriver, such as aPhillips head or slotted head screwdriver. The user inserts the head ofa screwdriver into the recess, e.g., between two or more nail members,and screws the threaded portion of the two-way fastener into theworkpiece. The user then drives a second workpiece onto the one or morenail member to secure the two workpieces together mechanically.

In a further alternative embodiment, the two-way fastener is a two-wayscrew, which may be desirable for certain applications. One end has afirst flathead screw member as described above. The head of the flatheadend of the first screw member has a raised hexagon ridge sized toreceive a standard hex head socket or nutdriver. The hexagon ridge israised in a same direction as is a second screw member that extends fromthe center of the hex head, in an opposite direction as the first screwmember. Each of the six sides of the raised hexagon ridge is formedhaving a saw-tooth shape. The teeth are oriented so as to cut into asecond workpiece as the second workpiece is nearing the first workpiecewhen it is threaded onto the second screw member, which occurs after thefirst screw member is screwed into the first workpiece.

The head of the flathead end of the first screw member extends past (hasa larger diameter than) the raised hexagon ridge, so that the user canpress the socket or nutdriver against the outer edge of the top surfaceof the flathead, as the user turns the socket or nutdriver against theraised hexagon ridge, to drive the first screw member into the firstworkpiece. The second screw member has a length and thickness sized tofit inside of the socket or nutdriver head. The saw-teeth sides of theridge can be configured to bend as they cut into the second workpiece,e.g., as it is threaded in a clockwise direction onto the second screwmember and the first workpiece, so as to create a locked-fit with thesecond workpiece. Or, the saw-teeth sides can be configured to creategouges in the second workpiece as the second workpiece is rotated ontothe second screw member.

In a different version of this third embodiment, the angled flatheadportion of the first workpiece is replaced with a second set ofsaw-teeth that also bend (or create gouges in the wood) as the firstscrew member is threaded into the first workpiece, so as to create alocked-fit between the first screw member and the first workpiece.

In a forth embodiment, a blade extends from a self-threading screw. Inan embodiment, the blade extends around at least part of the head of thescrew so as to expose the screw's slots to allow for turning the screwinto a first workpiece using a standard screwdriver. The blade comes toa point for piercing into and connecting the second workpiece to thefirst workpiece. The blade can have a generally triangular shape that isrolled or formed to have a diameter matching that of the head of thescrew. That is, the base of the triangle is arched to have a diametermatching that of the head of the screw. The opposing tip of the triangleis sharpened for piercing the second workpiece. The rounded bladeprovides a secondary advantage in that it helps to stabilize thefastener on the screwdriver while transporting the fastener to the firstworkpiece.

In one implementation, the entire base of the triangle is connected tothe head of the screw. This configuration provides a robust blade thatwill resist bending as it pierces into the second workpiece. It iscontemplated for this and other implementations to cut or form tabs inthe blade for creating stress against the second workpiece when insertedinto same to help hold or lock the second workpiece to the blades andfastener and thus help lock the first and second workpieces together.

In another implementation, only a portion, e.g., central portion, of thebase is connected (e.g., formed with or welded to) to head of the screw,leaving ears or tabs of the blade extending free from the connectedportion of the base. The ears or tabs, it is thought, will tend to flexor bend as the blade portion of the fastener is inserted into the secondworkpiece, which will tend to create stress on the ears or tabs, whichwill in turn impart stress onto the second workpiece when inserted intosame to help hold or lock the second workpiece to the blades andfastener and thus help lock the first and second workpieces together.

It is accordingly an advantage of the present disclosure to provide animproved two-way fastener.

It is another advantage of the present disclosure to provide amechanical fastener that can mechanically link two workpieces and behidden by the workpieces.

It is a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide afastener having a first member that is screwed into a first workpiece,and which allows a second workpiece to be translated onto a secondmember of the fastener.

It is still a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide afastener having a first member that is screwed into a first workpiece,and which allows a second workpiece to be screwed onto a second memberof the fastener.

It is yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide afastener having flanged edges that bend to lock the fastener into aworkpiece or create gouges in the workpiece to form a tensioned fit.

Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide atwo-way fastener that tends to be self-locking.

Still a further advantage of the present disclosure is to provide atwo-way fastener that tends hold itself onto the associated tool fortransportation of the fastener to the workpiece for connection.

Further still, it is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide atwo-way fastener that is fixable to a workpiece via a conventional tool,such as a screwdriver, pliers, nutdriver, socket or hammer.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B are elevation and top views, respectively, of oneembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having ascrew member and a nail member for operation with a standard pair ofpliers or vice grip tool and hammer.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are elevation and top views, respectively, of a secondembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having ascrew member and a nail member for operation with a standard pair ofpliers or vice grip tool and hammer.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevation and top views, respectively, of a thirdembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having ascrew member and a nail member, having at least one nail, for operationwith a standard flathead screwdriver and hammer.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevation and top views, respectively, of a fourthembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having ascrew member and a nail member, having at least one nail, for operationwith a standard Phillips head screwdriver and hammer.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are elevation and top views, respectively, of a fifthembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having dualscrew members for operation with a standard nutdriver or socket.

FIGS. 6A to 6L are top, front and side elevation and views of a sixthembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having ascrew member for operation with a standard screwdriver and a nail memberor blade.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative cylindrical saw-toothednail that may be used with the two-way fasteners of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative cylindrical nail having astandoff for securely separating the attached workpieces by a desireddistance or gap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1A and 1B,fastener 10 illustrates one embodiment of a two-way fastener of thepresent disclosure. Fastener 10 (as well as any of the fastenersdescribed herein) is made of a suitable material, such as steel,stainless steel, a galvanized metal, copper, bronze, aluminum and alloysthereof. Fastener 10 (as well as any of the fasteners described herein)can be cast, machined, or made via powdered metal as desired. For softerworkpieces, it is contemplated to mold fastener 10 (and others) into aplastic piece.

Fastener 10 connects first workpiece (e.g., wood) 12 to second workpiece(e.g., wood) 14, such that workpieces 12 and 14 can be mounted flushagainst each other. If desired, upper nail member 16 can be providedwith, e.g., gusseted, tabs (not illustrated) extending ninety degreesfrom one or more of the flat surfaces of nail member 16 (into and/or outof the page), and having an upper surface that is spaced from a topsurface 22 of flathead portion 20 of screw member 18 a desired distance,e.g., 0.5 inch (12.7 mm), so as to (i) connect workpieces 12 and 14together and (ii) space workpieces 12 and 14 apart the desired distanceor gap. FIG. 8 shows a cylindrical nail 70 having cylindrical standoff76 for performing the same function.

In the illustrated embodiment, nail member 16 has a same central axis asscrew member 18 and extends in an opposite direction from surface 22than does screw member 18. As illustrated below, nail member 16 (ormultiple nail members) can be offset from the central axis of screwmember 18.

In one embodiment, screw member 18 of fastener 10 is screwed or threadedfirst into workpiece 14, after which (i) workpiece 12 is hammered ontonail member 16 or (ii) workpiece 14, with nail member 16 extending fromit, is hammered onto workpiece 12. Screw member 18 is in one preferredembodiment self-threading.

Nail member 16 includes an upper spike portion 16 a and a lower flangeportion 16 b. The outer edges of spike portion 16 a and lower flangeportion 16 b can be chamfered as illustrated to provide a sharp edge tonail member 16 if desired to help nail member 16 to pierce and extendinto workpiece 12. It is contemplated to use a standard pair of pliersor vice-grip tool to grab lower flange portion 16 b, and with a tip ofthe tool pressed against surface 22, turn and drive tapered threaded(self-threading) portion 24 into workpiece 14. Nail member 16, and inparticular lower flange portion 16 b, has a thickness sufficient towithstand the torque imparted by the user's tool.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, fastener 30 illustrates a secondembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Fastener 30includes many of the same components and features as fastener 10 andlike components are numbered the same. Here, though, nail member 16 offastener 10 is replaced with alternative nail member 36. Alternativenail member 36 does not have a separate flange portion like nail member16. Instead, the saw-tooth edges 32 of nail member 36 (which can also bechamfered to form sharper edges as illustrated) extend all the way tosurface 22. The saw-tooth edges 32 of nail member 36 help to lockworkpiece 12 onto nail member 36 and thus fastener 30, securingworkpieces 12 and 14 together. Nail member 36 has a thickness sufficientto withstand the torque imparted by the user's tool.

Also, screw member 38 is modified so as not to have flathead portion 20,such that the tapered threaded portion 34 extends all the way to surface22. Alternative screw member 38 could be used with fastener 10 insteadof screw member 18. Alternative nail member 36 could be used withfastener 10 instead of nail member 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, fastener 40 a sets forth a thirdembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Fastener 40a includes many of the same components and features as the abovefasteners, and like components are numbered the same. Here, though, thenail member includes two nails 42 a and 42 b, which are positionedequidistant from and about a flathead screw slot 44. The user insertsthe head of a standard flathead screwdriver into slot 44 to turn anddrive tapered threaded portion 24 of screw member 18 into workpiece 14,after which (i) workpiece 12 is hammered onto nails 42 a and 42 b or(ii) workpiece 14, with nails 42 a and 42 b extending from it, ishammered onto workpiece 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, fastener 40 b sets forth a fourthembodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Here, thenail member includes four nails 42 a to 42 d, which are positionedequidistant from and about a Phillips head screw slot 46. The userinserts the head of a standard Phillips head screwdriver into slot 46 toturn and drive tapered threaded portion 24 of screw member 18 intoworkpiece 14, after which (i) workpiece 12 is hammered onto nails 42 ato 42 d or (ii) workpiece 14, with nails 42 a to 42 d extending from it,is hammered onto workpiece 12.

Fastener 40 b can have less than four nails. Nails 42 a and 42 b offastener 40 a and nails 42 a to 42 d of fastener 40 b are alternativelyflat and/or have saw-teeth taught above. Nails 42 a and 42 b of fastener40 a and nails 42 a to 42 d of fastener 40 b are alternativelycylindrical spikes. Fasteners 40 a and 40 b can further alternativelyemploy screw member 38 of fastener 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, fastener 50 illustrates a dual screwmember arrangement for operation with a standard nutdriver or socket.Fastener 50 includes many of the same components and features as theabove fasteners, and like components are numbered the same. Fastener 50is shown with lower screw member 18 but could use lower screw member 38of fastener 30 alternatively.

Fastener 50 includes an upper screw member 52 (e.g., self-threading) forthreading into upper workpiece 12. Also, fastener 50 provides triangularwalls 56 that collectively form a hexagon that is sized to receive astandard English or metric nutdriver or socket. Upper screw member 52 issized to fit inside the head of the nutdriver or socket as the nutdriveror socket is fitted over triangular walls 56 and pressed against theouter ring of surface 22 to allow the user to drive and screw fastener50 into lower workpiece 14.

As illustrated, triangular walls 56 are provided as a series ofsaw-teeth, each wall 56 having an angular edge 58 a and a vertical edge58 b. In the illustrated embodiment, in which upper screw member 52 is aright-handed screw, angular edge 58 a is positioned with respect to avertical edge 58 b such that angular cutting edge 58 a contacts thelower surface of upper workpiece 12 as the upper workpiece is threadeddown onto screw member 52. Cutting edges 58 a cut into the lower surfaceof upper workpiece 12 as the workpiece is threaded the final distancetowards surface 22 of flathead portion 20. Triangular walls 56 willattempt to maintain their hexagon forming structure as workpiece 12 isrotated in a circular manner onto hexagon forming walls 56. The resultis (i) a bending of walls 56; (ii) an irregular gouge formed inworkpiece 12; and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). It iscontemplated that regardless of which result occurs, the slicing ofwalls 56 into workpiece 12 will form a self-locking connection ofworkpiece 12 to workpiece 14.

The edges (one or both of edges 58 a and 58 b) of walls 56 may bechamfered as shown above in FIGS. 1A and 2A to provide sharp cuttingedges that may tend to form the irregular gouge in workpiece 12discussed at (ii) above. Or, walls 56 may be formed taller and thinnerso that they are more likely to bend as discussed at (i) above. It iscontemplated to orient walls 56 oppositely, so that workpiece 12 threadsfirst into vertical edge 58 b as opposed to angled edge 58 a. Stillfurther alternatively, both edges 58 a and 58 b can be angled so as tomeet at an apex located for example at the center of wall 56.

In yet another alternative embodiment, upper threaded member 52 isreplaced via any of the nail portions or nails described herein. Here,upper workpiece 12 is translated or hammered onto walls 56 as opposed tobeing threaded onto the walls. Again, the edges of walls 56 may bechamfered and have any of the shapes and orientations described above.

In still another alternative embodiment, flathead portion 20 of theupper screw member 52 is replaced with a second set of downward facingsaw-teeth that also bend (or create gouges in the wood) as the screwmember 18 is threaded into workpiece 14, so as to create a locked-fitbetween the screw member 18 and first workpiece 14.

In yet a further alternative embodiment (not illustrated), screw member38 having threaded portion 34 is used (FIG. 2A), and surface 22 isextended radially outwardly past the top of threaded portion 34. Here, asecond set of walls 56 are provided at the edge of surface 22 to form apolygon, like above, or to form a circler shape, and in either caseextend downward from surface 22. The downward facing walls 56: (i) bend,(ii) gouge or (i and ii) both to lock into workpiece 14 in a mannerdescribed above.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A to 6L, fasteners 100 a to 100 d illustratemultiple examples of a screw-to-translate embodiment of the two-wayfastener of the present disclosure. FIGS. 6A to 6C show top, front andside elevation views, respectively, of fastener 100 a. FIGS. 6D to 6Fshow top, front and side elevation views, respectively, of fastener 100b. FIGS. 6G to 6I show top, front and side elevation views,respectively, of fastener 100 c. FIGS. 6J to 6L show top, front and sideelevation views, respectively, of fastener 100 d. Fasteners 100 a to 100d can be made of any of the materials listed herein. Each of thefasteners 100 a to 100 d is illustrated having a self-threading Phillipshead type screw portion 102 but can alternatively have any type ofslotted screw head. In one preferred embodiment, the head of the screwportion, as is the case with screw portion 102 is of a flathead type,although panhead and other types of heads may be provided instead.

Fastener 100 a of FIGS. 6A to 6C includes a blade 110 a that has arolled-triangular shape. The sides of blade 110 a (and any of the bladesof fasteners 100 a to 100 d) can be generally straight as illustrated orbe bowed outwardly or inwardly as desired. The sides of blade 110 a (andany of the blades of fasteners 100 a to 100 d) can also be chamfered orsharpened along inner, outer or both edges of the sides of the blade asdesired for insertion into the second workpiece. Blade 110 a is formedwith or welded to screw portion 102. The entire base of blade 110 a isfixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screw member 102.That is, the circumferential fixed length F shown in FIG. 6B will beequal to the circumferential length of the base of blade 110 a. Blade110 a including its corners 112 a and 112 b will accordingly resistbending or deforming as it is inserted into the second workpiece andprovide a rigid fastener.

If needed for any of fasteners 100 a to 100 d, locking tabs 116 and 118may be provided to help lock blade 110 a to the second workpiece afterinsertion. In the illustrated embodiment, locking tabs 116 and 118 areformed by cutting the tabs along three sides in the wall of blade 110 aand then bending the tabs outward about the remaining hinge-like tops ofthe tabs. Here, locking tabs 116 and 118 will tend to be bent inwardupon insertion of blade 110 a into the second workpiece, causing tabs116 and 118 to provide a counteracting locking force or stress againstthe gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The force acts as alocking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade 110 a andconsequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the first workpiece.While two locking tabs 116 and 118 are shown, only a single or three ormore locking tabs may be provided and juxtaposed radially as shown,axially, diagonally, or some combination thereof. Locking tabs 116 and118 may also be formed with, e.g., extend from blade 110 a, as opposedto being cut and bent from blade 110 a.

Fastener 100 b of FIGS. 6D to 6F also includes a blade 110 b that has arolled shape, here a triangular, tree shape. Blade 110 b is formed withor welded to screw portion 102. Here, less that the entire base of blade110 b is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screwmember 102. That is, the circumferential fixed length F shown in FIG. 6Eis less than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade110 b. Blade 110 b forms ears or tabs 112 b and 114 b, heresharp-triangular shaped, that will tend to be bent or deformed uponinsertion of blade 110 b into the second workpiece causing ears or tabs112 b and 114 b to provide a counteracting locking force or stressagainst the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The forceacts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade 110 band consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the firstworkpiece. Circumferential fixed length F is chosen to provide a desiredcombination of (i) rigidity to blade 110 b for ease of insertion intothe second workpiece and (ii) flexibility to blade 110 b for lockingblade 110 b and fastener 100 b to the second workpiece once insertedinto same.

Fastener 100 c of FIGS. 6G to 6I also includes a blade 110 c that has arolled shape, here a spade-like shape. Blade 110 c is formed with orwelded to screw portion 102. Here again, less that the entire base ofblade 110 c is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head ofscrew member 102. The circumferential fixed length F shown in FIG. 6H isless than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade 110c. Blade 110 c forms ears or tabs 112 c and 114 c, here circular shaped,that will tend to be bent or deformed upon insertion of blade 110 c intothe second workpiece causing ears or tabs 112 c and 114 c to provide acounteracting locking force or stress against the gouged-out inner wallof the second workpiece. The force acts as a locking force to hold thesecond workpiece onto blade 110 c and consequently to hold the secondworkpiece fixed to the first workpiece. Circumferential fixed length Fis again chosen to provide a desired combination of (i) rigidity toblade 110 c for ease of insertion into the second workpiece and (ii)flexibility to blade 110 c for locking blade 110 c and fastener 100 c tothe second workpiece once inserted into same.

Fastener 100 d of FIGS. 6G to 6I also includes a blade 110 d that has arolled shape, here a diamond-like shape. Blade 110 d is formed with orwelded to screw portion 102. Here again, less that the entire base ofblade 110 d is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head ofscrew member 102. The circumferential fixed length F shown in FIG. 6K isless than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade 110d. Blade 110 d forms ears or tabs 112 d and 114 d, heretapered-triangular shaped, that will tend to be bent or deformed uponinsertion of blade 110 d into the second workpiece causing ears or tabs112 d and 114 d to provide a counteracting locking force or stressagainst the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The forceacts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade 110 dand consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the firstworkpiece. Circumferential fixed length F is again chosen to provide adesired combination of (i) rigidity to blade 110 d for ease of insertioninto the second workpiece and (ii) flexibility to blade 110 d forlocking blade 110 d and fastener 100 d to the second workpiece onceinserted into same.

Any of fasteners 100 a to 100 d can have multiple blades and have mixedblades from different ones of fasteners 100 a to 100 d. Any of theblades of fasteners 100 a to 100 d can extend less than one-hundredeighty degrees around the head of screw portion 102, approximatelyone-hundred eighty degrees around the head of screw portion 102, or morethan one-hundred eighty degrees around the head of screw portion 102. Inone embodiment, it is contemplated for a blade to extend the entirethree-hundred sixty degrees around the head of screw member 102 and havemultiple sharpened points for piercing the second workpiece. Such bladecould have one or more locking flaps, such as flaps 116 and 118, ifdesired. The blades can have other shapes from those shown in FIGS. 6Ato 6L.

It should be appreciated from FIGS. 6A to 6L that the associated bladesof fasteners 100 a to 100 d will help to hold the fasteners onto thescrewdriver as the fasteners are being moved towards the first workpiecefor connection thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 7, alternative cylindrical nail 60 includes apointed tip 62, a circular base 64 and a plurality of conically shapedsaw-teeth 66 a to 66 d. Different amounts of saw-teeth may be providedalternatively. Cylindrical nail 60 may have a constant outer diameter asshown, or may taper outwardly as the nail extends downwardly towardsbase 64. Nail 60 may be used with any of the two-way nail fastenersdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 8, alternative cylindrical nail 70 includes apointed tip 72, a circular base 74 and a standoff 76 for holdingworkpiece 12 a desired gap distance “d” away from workpiece 14. Standoff76 includes a conical section 78 a that angles outwardly from circularbase 74 to top wall 78 b. Workpiece 12 is hammered onto pointed tip 72until the workpiece reaches top wall 78 b at which point it is (i)securely fastened to nail 70 and thus workpiece 14 and (ii) held adesired gap distance “d” away from workpiece 14. The upper portion ofnail 70 from top wall 78 b to pointed tip 72 can have saw-teeth, such assaw-teeth 66 a to 66 d of nail 60 of FIG. 7, if desired to help lockworkpiece 12 onto nail 70.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A two-way fastener comprising: afirst member threaded for being screwed into a first workpiece; apolygonal wall for receiving a tool to screw the first member into thefirst workpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the firstmember; and a second member extending in an opposite fastening directionfrom the first member, the second member configured to be fastened to asecond workpiece.
 2. The two-way fastener of claim 1, wherein the secondmember is threaded for being screwed into the second workpiece.
 3. Thetwo-way fastener of claim 1, wherein the second member is coaxial withthe first member.
 4. The two-way fastener of claim 1, wherein the secondmember is a nail member.
 5. The two-way fastener of claim 1, wherein thepolygonal wall extends from the base in a same direction as the secondmember.
 6. The two-way fastener of claim 1, wherein the polygonal wallincludes sides having saw-tooth shapes oriented so as to graduallyengage the second workpiece as the second member is fastened to thesecond workpiece.
 7. The two-way fastener of claim 6, wherein the sidesare configured to be bent by the second workpiece so as to help lock thesecond workpiece to the second member.
 8. The two-way fastener of claim6, wherein the saw-tooth shapes include an angular edge and a verticaledge.
 9. The two-way fastener of claim 6, wherein the saw-tooth shapesinclude two angled edges.
 10. The two-way fastener of claim 9, whereinthe two angled edges are angled so as to meet at an apex located at acenter of the saw-tooth shape.
 11. The two-way fastener of claim 6,wherein the saw-tooth shapes include chamfered edges.
 12. The two-wayfastener of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer perimeterprotruding radially past the polygonal wall, such that the tool forscrewing the first member into the first workpiece can be pressedagainst the outer perimeter of the base as the tool is turned againstthe polygonal wall.
 13. The two-way fastener of claim 1, the polygonalwall a first polygonal wall, and which includes a second polygonal wallextending in a same direction as the first member, the second polygonalwall configured to help lock the first workpiece to the first member.14. The two-way fastener of claim 1, wherein the first member is aflathead screw and the base end of the first member is a flatheadportion of the flathead screw.
 15. A two-way fastener comprising: afirst member configured to be fastened to a first workpiece; a polygonalwall for receiving a tool to fasten the first member to the firstworkpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the first member;and a second member extending in an opposite fastening direction fromthe first member, the second member configured to be fastened to asecond workpiece, the second member sized to fit within the tool used toscrew the first member into the first workpiece.
 16. The two-wayfastener of claim 1, wherein the first member is threaded for beingscrewed into the first workpiece.
 17. The two-way fastener of claim 1,wherein the polygonal wall is hexagonal.
 18. A fastening methodcomprising: enabling the threading of a first member of a fastener intoa first workpiece; and enabling the threading of a second workpiece to asecond member, the second member extending outwardly from the firstmember and the first workpiece.
 19. The fastening method of claim 18,which includes enabling the locking of the second member to the secondworkpiece via the threading of the second member to the secondworkpiece.
 20. The fastening method of claim 18, which includesstructuring the second member such that a tool can be placed over thesecond member to thread the first member into the first workpiece.